Class sizes in primary schools are under threat in the next budget. Minister Ruairí Quinn said, after reversing the cuts to special education teaching in June, that he would have to find the equivalent €24 million to pay for the reversal from other means within the Department, including looking at class sizes. Since then there has been further media speculation about the level of cuts to be imposed by the Government to education in the next budget. The original figure was €44 million to be cut from the education budget. The latest speculation has increased to almost €100 million due to money for the redress scheme for victims of child abuse. Ireland already has the second highest primary class sizes in the EU. Higher classes mean less individual attention for pupils, increased pressure on other resources including special education within schools, and increased work pressure on over - stretched school communities. Please act now by sending the postcard that was supplied to you ,to your local representative, before it’s too late!